Ghanaian officials and those of the Egyptian carrier EgyptAir have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) towards the operation of a national airline.
The investment for the project will be sourced from both countries, DAILY GUIDE has learnt.
The signing ceremony between the two countries was done by the Minister of Aviation Joseph, Kofi Adda, who was supported by Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt, Dr. Winfred Nii Okai Hammond.
The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Emad Magdy Hanna, also did same for his country. He was supported during the activity by EgyptAir Board Chairman Rushdi Zakaria, Abdul Razak Daher of Dakmak Family with a host of other dignitaries as witnesses.
In his remarks, Rushdi Zakaria recalled the historical bond of friendship existing between Egypt and Ghana.
EgyptAir, he said, can assist Ghana in the field of civil aviation as well as meet the logistics needs of the country in the civil aviation sector.
The advantages that would be garnered from the newly carved partnership will be second to none, he said.
Mr. Kofi Adda, on his part, said, “We have signed the MoU and we are hoping that in the next few days, we will be able to get to the next level of the partnership agreement and go through the necessary processes as a government entity to formalise the engagement.”
He added that the new status of Ghana as headquarters for the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) would improve connectivity and transform trade within the African continent.
“Ghana being the hub of African Continental Free Trade Area without an airline would not make sense, as a result, this partnership would be more or less the beginning and the end of a hub happening in Africa based in Ghana,” he indicated.
Emad Magdy Hanna highlighted the great relationship between Ghana and Egypt since time immemorial, which according to him, shows that Africa is growing on the right track.
Highlighting the benefits derivable from the partnership, Dr. Hammond added that the new airline would bring Africa together.
EgyptAir is the oldest African airline with more than 80 worldwide connections.
By Sharon Willis Brown-Acquah